Historian Resume: Skills, Examples & Career Guide (2026)
Historian resume guide for 2026. Learn what historians do, essential skills, salary data from BLS, and see a complete historian resume example with expert tips.
Historian Resume: Skills, Examples & Career Guide (2026)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
> "Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources."
The BLS reports that there are approximately 3,800 historians employed in the United States, earning a median annual wage of $76,750 ($36.90/hour). The top 10% earn more than $131,340, while the bottom 10% earn less than $46,590.
According to the American Historical Association (AHA), in an interview with Richard Gillespie, director of education for the Mosby Heritage Area Association:
> "People don't care what school you went to or what your history degree is in, but if you have a resume that shows you've done a bunch of stuff in history, you're going to be hirable."
This guide covers everything you need to know about writing a historian resume — what historians do, essential skills, qualifications, salary data, and a complete resume example.
“Historian Resume: Key Takeaways
- 3,800 historians employed in the U.S. (BLS)
- Median annual wage: $76,750 (May 2025)
- Top 10% earn more than $131,340
- 3% job growth projected (2025-2035)
- 300 annual openings projected
- Master's degree typically required
- Federal historians (GS-14) earn $131,342 – $170,750
- Archival research and historical analysis are core skills
- Public history and digital humanities are growing fields”
What You'll Learn in This Guide
- What historians do (BLS and O*NET duties)
- Historian salary and job outlook data
- Essential hard skills and soft skills
- Qualifications and education requirements
- Federal historian career paths
- A complete historian resume example
- Common mistakes to avoid
What Does a Historian Do? (BLS & O*NET Duties)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
> "Historians typically do the following:
>
> - Gather historical data from various sources, including archives, books, and newspapers
> - Analyze and interpret historical information to determine its authenticity and significance
> - Engage with the public through educational programs and presentations
> - Archive or preserve materials and artifacts in museums, visitor centers, and historic sites
> - Provide advice or guidance on historical topics and preservation issues
> - Write reports, articles, and books on findings and theories"
According to O*NET OnLine, historians also:
- Research and prepare manuscripts for public programming and exhibits
- Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports
- Present research findings to groups
- Conduct internet-based and library research
- Verify accuracy and validity of data
According to USAJOBS, federal historians also:
- Conduct research supporting historical information requirements
- Develop plans, policies, and procedures for data collection
- Represent organization at professional conferences
- Serve as advisor to commanders and staff on historical precedent
- Collect and record historical data from interviews
Historian Salary & Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
| Data Point | BLS Statistic |
|---|---|
| Median Annual Wage (May 2025) | $76,750 |
| Median Hourly Wage | $36.90 |
| Top 10% Annual Wage | $131,340+ |
| Bottom 10% Annual Wage | Less than $46,590 |
| Number of Jobs (2025) | 3,800 |
| Job Outlook (2025-2035) | 3% (as fast as average) |
| Employment Change | +100 jobs |
| Annual Openings | ~300 per year |
| Typical Entry-Level Education | Master's degree |
According to USAJOBS, federal historians at the GS-14 grade earn between $131,342 and $170,750 per year.
Historian Skills (Hard & Soft)
Hard Skills
According to JobSprout.ai and Kickresume:
| Category | Skills |
|---|---|
| Research Methods | Archival Research, Primary Source Analysis, Oral History, Qualitative Research, Research Design, Source Criticism |
| Analysis | Historical Analysis, Historiography, Textual Criticism, Data Interpretation, Contextual Analysis |
| Technical | Paleography, Manuscript Analysis, Digital Humanities, Database Management |
| Writing & Publishing | Academic Writing, Grant Writing, Report Writing, Peer Review |
| Preservation | Archiving Documents and Artifacts, Preserving Historical Materials, Authenticating Artifacts, Restoration Procedures |
| Data Collection | Gathering Historical Data, Tracing Historical Developments, Analyzing Historical Data |
Soft Skills
According to Kickresume and SEEK:
| Soft Skill | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Attention to Detail | Historical accuracy depends on precision |
| Critical Thinking | Evaluating sources and interpretations |
| Written Communication | Reports, articles, and publications |
| Verbal Communication | Presentations, lectures, public engagement |
| Patience | Research can take months or years |
| Problem-Solving | Finding connections in fragmented evidence |
| Community Engagement | Working with diverse public audiences |
| Collaboration | Working with museums, archives, and teams |
Historian Qualifications & Education
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
> "Historians typically need a master's degree. However, a bachelor's degree may qualify for entry-level positions."
According to O*NET OnLine, the education levels for historians are:
| Education Level | Percentage of Historians |
|-----------------|--------------------------|
| Master's degree | 47% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 36% |
| Bachelor's degree | 17% |
Sample of reported job titles (O*NET):
- Historian
- Archives Director
- Curator
- Historical Consultant
- Historic Sites Supervisor
- Research Historian
- Museum Registrar
Federal Historian Career Path
According to USAJOBS, federal historians are hired across agencies including the Department of Defense, National Park Service, and Smithsonian Institution.
Federal Historian Salary (GS-14): $131,342 – $170,750/year
Federal historian duties (USAJOBS):
- Conduct research supporting historical information requirements
- Develop plans, policies, and procedures for data collection
- Represent organization at professional conferences
- Serve as advisor to commander and staff on historical precedent
- Collect and record historical data from interviews
Complete Historian Resume Example
“EMILY CARTER
(555) 123-4567 | emily.carter@email.com | Boston, MA
[LinkedIn URL]
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Historian with 6 years of experience specializing in 19th-century American social history. Expertise in archival research, digital humanities, and public history programming. Published author with 3 peer-reviewed articles and 2 museum exhibitions curated. Committed to making historical scholarship accessible to diverse audiences.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Archival Research | Primary Source Analysis | Historiography | Digital Humanities | Oral History | Academic Writing | Exhibit Curation | Public Programming | Grant Writing | Museum Collections Management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Public Historian | Boston Historical Society | Boston, MA | 2022-Present
- Curated 2 major exhibitions reaching 45,000+ visitors, securing $85,000 in grant funding
- Developed K-12 educational programs serving 1,200+ students across 15 schools
- Managed archival digitization project preserving 8,000+ documents
- Conducted 25+ oral history interviews for community memory project
- Published 3 peer-reviewed articles in journals including the Journal of American History
Research Assistant | Harvard University History Department | Cambridge, MA | 2019-2022
- Conducted archival research across 6 national repositories for professor's book project
- Analyzed 2,000+ primary documents spanning 1780-1920
- Co-authored 2 scholarly articles on labor history
- Presented research at 4 national conferences with audiences of 50+ scholars
EDUCATION
Master of Arts in History
Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 2019
Thesis: "Labor and Community in Industrial New England, 1840-1900"
Bachelor of Arts in History
Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA | 2017
Summa Cum Laude | GPA: 3.9
PUBLICATIONS
- Carter, E. (2025). "Community and Resistance in Industrial New England." Journal of American History, 112(3), 445-467.
- Carter, E. (2024). "Labor Migration and Family Networks in the 19th Century." Labor History, 65(2), 201-219.
AWARDS & HONORS
- Excellence in Public History Award, National Council on Public History | 2025
- Research Grant, Massachusetts Historical Society | $15,000 | 2024
- Graduate Fellowship, Harvard University | 2017-2019
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Historical Association (AHA)
- National Council on Public History (NCPH)
- Organization of American Historians (OAH)”
Entry-Level Historian Resume Example
“MICHAEL CHEN
(555) 987-6543 | michael.chen@email.com | Chicago, IL
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
History graduate with a Bachelor's degree and hands-on experience in archival research, museum programming, and public history. Skilled in primary source analysis, historical writing, and digital humanities. Seeking an entry-level historian or research assistant position.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Archival Research | Primary Source Analysis | Historical Writing | Data Entry | Digital Humanities | Oral History | Museum Programming
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in History
University of Illinois at Chicago | Chicago, IL | 2025
GPA: 3.8 | Dean's List (2023-2025)
Thesis: "Immigration and Community Formation in Chicago, 1880-1920"
EXPERIENCE
Archival Intern | Chicago History Museum | Chicago, IL | 2024-2025
- Cataloged and digitized 500+ historical documents
- Assisted researchers with archival requests
- Created finding aids for 3 new collections
Research Assistant | UIC History Department | Chicago, IL | 2024
- Conducted research for professor's book on Midwest labor history
- Analyzed 200+ primary documents
- Compiled bibliographies and research summaries
VOLUNTEER
Historical Society Volunteer | Chicago Historical Society | 2023-2024
- Led guided tours for 100+ visitors
- Assisted with exhibit setup and community events
AWARDS
- History Department Scholarship | 2024
- Undergraduate Research Grant | $2,000 | 2023”
Common Historian Resume Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It Hurts | Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Overly academic jargon | Hiring managers may not understand; ATS may not recognize | Replace with plain-language equivalents |
| Missing quantifiable achievements | Recruiters can't gauge impact | Add metrics: publications, grants, citations |
| Chronological gaps unexplained | Employers assume instability | Label as 'Independent Scholar' or 'Research Sabbatical' |
| Unclear career objective | Doesn't tell employer what role you're targeting | Write a 2-sentence headline with desired position |
| Using a CV for non-academic roles | Too long and academically focused | Convert to a 1-2 page resume for public history roles |
Expert Quotes to Remember
“"Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources."”
“"As early as possible you want to start to prepare a resume to show that you've been involved in history. People don't care what school you went to or what your history degree is in, but if you have a resume that shows you've done a bunch of stuff in history, you're going to be hirable."”
“"Approach the job application process as you would an assignment in a history course. You have an opportunity to use evidence (personal experience) to support a thesis (I am qualified for this position)."”
“"Hiring managers may not understand specialized terminology. ATS may not recognize niche phrases. Makes the resume feel inaccessible."”
“"Published 5 peer-reviewed articles on medieval trade routes, cited 120 times, and secured a $30,000 research grant."”
Sources & References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — Historian salary, job outlook, and duties
- O*NET OnLine — Historian tasks, skills, and education levels
- USAJOBS — Federal historian salary and duties
- American Historical Association (AHA) — Career readiness, resume guidance, and expert interviews
- JobSprout.ai — History resume examples and skills
- Kickresume — Historian resume samples and format guidance
- Resumly — Common resume mistakes and before/after examples
Conclusion: Build a Historian Resume That Gets Noticed
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, historians earn a median annual wage of $76,750, and employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035. Approximately 300 openings are projected each year.
According to the AHA:
> "Grab every history opportunity you can get your hands on."
Key Takeaways:
- Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past
- Median salary: $76,750 (top 10% earn $131,340+)
- Master's degree typically required
- Federal historians (GS-14) earn $131,342 – $170,750
- Core skills: archival research, primary source analysis, historiography
- Quantify achievements with numbers
- Avoid academic jargon for non-academic employers
- Build your resume early with history experience
Action Steps for Today:
1. Identify your specialty area (American, European, public history, etc.)
2. List your hard skills (research methods, analysis tools)
3. List your soft skills (communication, attention to detail)
4. Quantify your research achievements
5. Translate academic language into plain language
6. Add publications, grants, and presentations
7. Build your ATS-friendly resume with our ATS CV Maker
What does a historian do?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, historians 'research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources.' Their duties include gathering historical data from archives, analyzing information to determine authenticity and significance, engaging with the public through educational programs, archiving materials and artifacts, providing advice on historical topics, and writing reports, articles, and books.
About the Author
Ash is a resume expert and career strategist who helps history graduates, researchers, and academics translate their training into compelling resumes and CVs. Ash's work has been cited in leading career publications and trusted by job seekers worldwide.
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